WASHINGTON, APRIL 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After a meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens, President John F. Kennedy encouraged all Americans to pay tribute to older people across the country by designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month. Every president since has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May in support of older Americans. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation changing the name of this observance to Older Americans Month. This month continues to be a time to celebrate the age 65 and older population through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

Population

May is designated as Older Americans Month and honors the 65-and-older population by celebrating the contributions they have made, and continue to make, to the nation and their communities.

$170,516The median net worth for householders age 65 and older in 2011. Source: Survey of Income and Program Participation, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011 www.census.gov/people/wealth

13.7% The supplemental poverty rate for those age 65 or older, equating to 6.5 million people in 2015. Excluding Social Security from income would more than triple the poverty rate for this group. Source: The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2015, Table 2www.census.gov/library/publications/2016/demo/p60-258.html

79.5% The percentage of householders age 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2016. Source: Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Historical Table 19www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html

Services for the Older Population

4,815The number of continuing care retirement communities in 2012. These businesses employed 423,627 people and generated $27.6 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 5,373 such establishments, employing 416,402 people and generating $24.7 billion in revenues. These establishments provide a range of residential and personal care services with on-site nursing care facilities for the elderly and other people who are unable to care for themselves, and the elderly and other people who do not desire to live independently. Individuals live in a variety of residential settings with meals, housekeeping, social, leisure and other services available to assist residents in daily living. Source: 2012 Economic Census Geographic Area Series, Table EC1200CCOMP1www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ECN_2012_US_00CCOMP1&prodType=table

25,964 The number of business establishments providing services for the elderly and people with disabilities in 2012. These businesses employed 901,359 people and generated $34.1 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 20,433 such establishments, employing 621,545 people and generating $25.3 billion in revenues. These establishments provide nonresidential social assistance services to improve the quality of life for the elderly, persons diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or persons with disabilities. Senior citizens centers are among the establishments in this industry.Source: 2012 Economic Census Geographic Area Series, Table EC1200CCOMP1www.factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ECN_2012_US_00CCOMP1&prodType=table

43.5%The percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household in 2010, the most common living arrangement for this group. For their female counterparts, the most common living arrangement was residing in a nursing home (35.2 percent).Source: Centenarians: 2010, Figure 4www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau'sFacts for Features series:

African-American History Month (February)

Labor Day (1st Monday in September)

Super Bowl (first Sunday in February)

Grandparents Day (1st Sunday after Labor Day)

Valentine's Day (Feb. 14)

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

Women's History Month (March)

Unmarried and Single Americans Week (3rd week of September)

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/

Halloween (Oct. 31)

St. Patrick's Day (March 17)

American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

Earth Day (April 22)

(November)

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)

Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

Older Americans Month (May)

Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)

Mother's Day (2nd Sunday in May)

The Holiday Season (December)

Hurricane Season Begins (June 1)

Father's Day (third Sunday in June)

The Fourth of July (July 4)

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)

Back to School (August)

Editor's note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines.